w.w.w. impact prostitutes on women development

impact prostitutes on women development The effect is both positive and negative. On the positive side, prostitutes are traders who provide sexual services. They are meeting needs of men with huge sexual appetite or those in need of sexual satisfaction. These people, I mean harlots also earn income from such services and as such are able to meet their own financial needs. In some countries where prostitution is legalised, they also pay tax. Invariably, commercial sex workers contribute to the economy by providing self employment and earning income from services provided. On the flip side however, this group of people contribute immeasurably to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and premature deaths. Among the diseases spread by whores are herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. Given the number of deaths recorded annually as a result of these diseases, particularly among the working class, it is a monumental loss. Prostitutes also contribute to increase in incidences of rape and moral decadence. With the coming of internet, pornography has been liberalised as their sites abound on the internet. They are also available in print and compact discs. Unfettered access to these x-rated materials has given rise to incidences of rape. Government at all levels has been trying their level best to stamp out prostitution by ordering police to raid hotels and brothels. In the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Abuja municipality, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board has been combing all the red-light districts to effect arrest of suspected prostitutes. This has generated a lot of hues and cries as many commentators have spoken about indiscriminate arrest of women whose only crime may be a loose dress sense. I however appreciate what some state governments and NGOs are doing in terms of rehabilitating arrested prostitutes by training them in life skills. National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other matters (NAPTIP), Idia Reconnaissance, a pet project of Mrs. Eki Igbinedion, wife of former governor of Edo State and even FCT administration have been doing a lot to rehabilitate prostitutes and trafficked women. These are commendable actions. More effort however has to be put into creating enabling environment for people to earn a decent living rather than being forced into prostitution only to attempt to reform them thereafter. A lot of enlightenment campaigns, I mean civic education, has to be undertaken by government and non-governmental agencies to educate citizenry about the evils of prostitution and its negative impact on women development.